|
History of the TechFee
This page includes the original Technology Fee FAQ.
Technology Fee FAQ
- Why is a Technology Fee needed?
The rapid rate of change in computing and telecommunications technologies carries with it major challenges for colleges and universities. Chief among those challenges is the problem of securing the funding necessary to establish and maintain the technological infrastructure required to leverage these new technologies in the teaching/learning process, research, public service, and administration.
At The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the Educational and General budget, which is funded largely by state appropriations and student fees, supports a number of basic computing and telecommunications services. Included among these services is access to central computing and server facilities, access to on-line documentation and computer-based training courses, access to six staffed and sixteen unstaffed student computer labs, a limited set of software products at no charge, and access to student support services.
- What will the fee provide for students?
- Enhanced Network Access On- and Off-Campus
Current Status - At the time the Technology Fee was approved, the network infrastructure had neither enough carrying capacity (bandwidth), nor did it include all of the campus community. Much has been done to improve the campus network, but to provide and maintain a viable network into the future will require a large commitment from all areas of the university. The Technology Fee is an integral part of this effort. Please reference the section on
"Actual Deliverables" on this web site for a listing of year by year improvements.
Planned development - Since the Technology Fee's inception in 1997 many improvements have been made to the campus communications infrastructure. Please reference the section on
"Proposed Deliverables" on this web site for a listing of year by year proposals.
- Enhanced Student Computing Labs
Current Status - At the time the Technology Fee was approved, there were six staffed, open-access computing laboratories and sixteen unstaffed laboratories. Departments and Colleges funded their special purpose labs from operating budgets or grants. Due to the Technology Fee many academic labs have been upgraded, new labs have opened, and several thousand new microcomputers have been made available to students through these upgrades. Please reference the section on
"Actual Deliverables" on this web site for a listing of year by year improvements to the campus labs.
Planned Development - Computing lab improvements include upgrading equipment on a three-year recurring basis, expanding hours of availability, and increasing the number of seats available. In addition, at least one or more departmental labs will be upgraded each year. Please reference the section on
"Proposed Deliverables" on this web site for a listing of year by year proposals for the campus labs.
- Enhanced Student Support Services
Current Status - At the time the Technology Fee was approved, the support line was available for thirty hours per week. Currently it is available forty-five hours a week. Statistical consulting which used to be available to students only on a fee-for-service basis, now offers up to ten hours of free consulting per student per semester with a reduced cost of $20 per hour above the ten hour limit. In-class training for Information Technology courses as well as self-paced training courses from CBT are now available to students at no cost. Please reference the section on
"Actual Deliverables" on this web site for a listing of year by year improvements to Student Support Services.
Planned Development - Student Support Services will investigate extending the support line to evening hours. Additional instructor-based training courses for students will be added. Please reference the section on
"Proposed Deliverables" on this web site for a listing of year by year proposals.
- Enhanced Instructional Technology
Current Status - The Technology Fee has played an important role in the creation of a new development and demonstration laboratory (Innovative Technology Center Development Lab) which was created for training faculty and teaching staff in new methods of delivering instruction. Upgrades of classrooms to enable delivery of multimedia instruction have been implemented each year. CourseInfo, a comprehensive course management system, was introduced by the Innovative Technology Center and due to its success has been expanded to a campus Enterprise Edition. ITC has also been leading the effort in implementing an Academic portal system at the University of Tennessee. Please reference the section on
"Actual Deliverables" on this web site for a listing of year by year improvements.
Planned Development - Provide consultation/training for instructors in the effective use of technology in teaching and learning strategies, Web resources, and multimedia. Continue to upgrade instructional venues with smart classroom technology and mobile technology carts delivering instruction. Maintain Instructional Development Lab. Please reference the section on
"Proposed Deliverables" on this web site for a listing of year by year proposals.
- What are the funding requirements?
The proposed fee will be assessed each semester on a $12 per credit-hour basis, with a $100 cap. This student technology fee will create an ongoing revenue stream of approximately $5,000,000 per year.
- Who will be responsible for the administration of the technology fee?
The revenues derived from the fund are placed in a separate account in the office of the Vice Chancellor of Information Infrastructure.
An advisory committee to the Vice Chancellor for Information Infrastructure, called the Technology Appropriations Board, annually reviews all plans, deliverables, and proposals to ensure effective use of the revenue generated to enhance student access to information technology at UTK. The committee is composed of representatives from the Student Government Association, Graduate Student Association, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Council of Academic Deans, Faculty, Business and Finance, and Office of Research and Information Technology.
A Subcommittee, composed of the five student members of the advisory committee and five additional students, analyzes student needs and recommends plans and expenditures to the advisory committee.
- What effect will the technology fee have on those of us who live off campus, and dial into the network from home?
In 1997, two hundred modems were added to the modem pool. In 1998, an upgrade allowed end users to have 33 Kbps connections as well as ISDN digital connections, which allow 64 Kbps or 128 Kbps connections. In 1999, the dial-up modem pool was upgraded to 56Kps modem speeds and v.90 technology.
- Will there be any x-windows or algebra software products available to students as a result of the technology fee?
At this time, x-windows interface and algebra software are available from the UT Computer Store under Academic License agreements. Currently DII has in place site licenses for products that cover both functions, but they are not directly supported by the technology fee:
- The x-windows interface software is covered under a site license agreement for Exceed by Hummingbird for PCs.
- The algebra software need is being addressed by a site license agreement for Maple-V by Waterloo Inc. for all platforms.
If students have requests for additional software to be carried under a site license, they should voice their needs to their student representative on the Technology Advisory Board.
- Why do commuter students have to pay for a SLIP account as well as having to pay the technology fee?
The primary intent of the technology fee is to enhance the information infrastructure on the UTK Campus.
It has been determined that the subsidized SLIP/PPP service will
be continued while all options for improved service at reduced costs are
investigated.
Even though it is necessary for off-campus students to pay for personal
access to the campus network and the Internet, the expanded campus
information infrastructure enabled by the technology fee will provide
many benefits to the off-campus student:
-
Expansion and upgrade of the on-campus computing labs may be
useful to you in coursework, as assignments may depend on utilization of
software installed in open and departmental labs.
- The enhancements to the campus network has broad implications in
providing electronic mail access to your department and to your
professors.
- Many faculty members will be utilizing the web for distribution of
class materials and syllabi, so expansion of the network will improve
your access from your machine at home.
- Additional support via the Student Support Line and access to a broad
array of computer based training courses are also available to you.
- Is the technology fee intended for capital or non-capital items?
Part of the technology fee does cover capital items such as the campus backbone. The rest of the funding is earmarked for "non-capital" items such as the purchase of computers for student labs, free or reduced price software for students, support services students wanted (statistical and computer support), training courses for students, and instruction technology enhancements.
- What benefits of the technology fee will current seniors experience?
Many improvements occur each year. Please reference the section on
"Actual Deliverables" on this web site for a listing of year by year improvements.
- Who was involved in the development of the technology fee?
The UTK student technology fee resulted from a year-long planning process, in which a broad range of the campus community was consulted, including students, faculty and staff. Before the fee was presented to the Board of Trustees, the issue was put to a vote by the three student groups. Each of the student organizations (Student Government Organization, Graduate Student Association, and the Undergraduate Academic Council) voted to support the plan that was submitted.
Students play an active role in the planning and spending of the fee. The Technology Advisory Board has a student co-chair and five student members. Additionally, there is a student subcommittee that develops recommendations for the Technology Advisory
Board. These students are continually developing and implementing plans for the technology fee.
Back to FAQs
|
